Style And Symbols In Ann Beatties Snow English Literature Essay

Style And Symbols In Ann Beatties Snow English Literature Essay What do relationships, storytelling, and memories have in common? Beattie explores this question in her short story, Snow. The story takes place in the country during winter and describes a past relationship between two lovers. Beattie makes use of a brief, jumpy writing style and several symbols in the story for a threefold purpose. In Snow, Beattie uses style and symbolism not only to give insight into a past relationship, but to examine the art of storytelling and the elements of human memory. Beatties writing style gives insight into a past relationship between two lovers. A large paragraph is used to describe the womans memory. It is jumpy, but many details are given. She remembers that in the kitchen, a pattern of white-gold trellises supported purple grapes as big and round as Ping-Pong balls (114). She also remembers the stories that her visitors told, such as a boy and the ice cream truck and man finding a diamond ring on the beach (114). This shows how much she considered this a special relationship and wanted to hold on to the relationship by capturing very minute details and stories with amazing and happy endings. On the other hand, the mans memory is described briefly without much detail. His memory makes no mention of the wallpaper and he remembers that their visitors told the same stories people always tell. This contrast shows that the man didnt see their relationship as anything special, it was just another story the same as anyone elses. The brevity of the s tory, less than two pages long, also reflects the fleeting nature of the couples relationship. Likewise, Beatties style examines the art of storytelling. The man states that, Any life will seem dramatic if you omit mention of the most of it (115). This indicates that stories should be short, containing moments and should not be full of every mundane detail of everyday life. The narrator also states that this is a story, told the way you say stories should be told: Somebody grew up, fell in love, and spent a winter with her lover in the country. This, of course, is the barest outline (115). This conveys the idea that in general, most stories contain certain basic elements, such as a conflict, and follow a basic outline. For example romantic comedies follow a basic outline: The boy wants the girl, the boy has to overcome obstacles, and the boy gets the girl in the end, or vice versa. Beatties style also examines the nature of memory. The story jumps from descriptions of the couple in winter (114-115) to the death of a friend in a future spring (115). This random pattern is reflective of how memories work. One memory can trigger another seemingly unrelated memory. The narrator also states, People forget years and remember moments (115). This idea is reflected in the narrative style. The womans memory puts emphasis on certain details and moments, the chipmunk, wallpaper, snow, etc. (114), rather than on what happened that entire month or year. Also, the discrepancies between the memories of the lovers (114-115) emphasize the fact that people can have different memories of the same event. Just as Beattie uses style to give insight into a past relationship, storytelling, and memory, she uses symbolism for the same purpose. According to the woman, the chipmunk ran through the living room. It went through the library and stopped at the front door as though it knew the house well (114). In contrast, the man sees that the chipmunk ran to hide in the dark, not simply to a door that led to its escape (115). This contrast gives insight into the lovers different views on the relationship. The chipmunk represents the woman, who sees herself leaving her lover as an escape after he states What do you think youre doing in here (114)? i.e., what are you doing in this relationship? On the contrary, the man sees her as hiding or cowering. The contrasting views about the chipmunk are also indicative of the lovers differing views in other areas of life and the fact that they do not belong together. Another symbol in Snow is the wallpaper. The narrator states that she thought of the bits of grape that remained underneath and imagined the vine popping through, the way some plants can tenaciously push through anything (114). The wallpaper works as a symbol in several ways. It symbolizes the covering up of issues in the couples relationship, which eventually come to the surface. This also symbolizes the dramatic moments that must manifest in storytelling, and finally it symbolizes the fact that repressed memories may eventually come to the surface. The pool is another symbol that has multiple purposes. The pool is covered with black plastic that had been stretched across it for winterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the cover collected more and more water until it finally spilled onto the concrete (115). Like the wallpaper, the covered pool is symbolic of the covering up of issues in the relationship, as well as repressed memories. Also, water is generally used as a symbol of life. The fact that the water pushes breaks through the lifeless plastic is indicative of the importance of stories to contain a driving force or energy, rather than to be stagnant. The snow is the most dynamic symbol in the story. The narrator states, Remember the night, out on the lawn, knee-deep in snow, chins pointed to the sky as the wind whirled down all that whiteness (115)? White is often symbolic of innocence. The whiteness of the snow indicates that the relationship between the lovers is young and naive. The lovers are knee-deep in this young and naÃÆ' ¯ve love. Furthermore, the man is described as the king of snow (114), and he remember(s) that the cold settled in stages (115). This conveys the idea that his love towards her grows cold, just as the snow is cold. Just as the snow covers the ground (114), the couple masks their issues. The snow also works as a symbol for storytelling. The narrator states, Love, in its shortest form, becomes a word. What I remember most about all that time is one winter. The snow. Even now, saying snow, my lips move so that they kiss the air (115). Just as snow becomes a word that that captures the love that the woman once had, stories are told with words and symbols that capture important ideas. The fact that snow becomes a word also indicates the fact that memories are triggered by words and symbols. For example, a piece of clothing may bring up a certain memory in someone. The clothing is symbolic in that it represents something more than what it really is. Beatties use of style and symbolism reveal several aspects of a couples past relationship, while commenting upon the art of storytelling, and examining the nature of memory. Her unique narrative style and use of symbolism work on multiple levels to tie in these main ideas. Just as the lovers relationship is summed up in seconds and symbols (115), so are stories and memories.

Belonging in Ancestors and Feliks Essay

Fundamentally one can only really feel a true sense of belonging for a nominal moment in time. The actual instance of belonging is intangible and not permanent. Due to this, any form of belonging will involve compromise, sacrifice and some degree of tension as different ideals compete for supremacy. We will continue to accumulate different senses of belonging and disregard the others as we grow, evolve and adapt to different situations. Due to the varying and conflicting belonging ideals, we will become frustrated and the joy of belonging may become a burden upon us at times. This frustration and momentary joy of searching for one’s place of belonging are explored in Skrzynekci’s â€Å"Ancestors† and â€Å"Feliks†, as well as â€Å"Homecoming† a novel by Cynthia Voigt. It implores the audience of these texts to relate to the happenings of the characters in the texts. The texts requires us to place ourselves in the shoes of the characters feeling the ir sense of connectedness, belonging and self identity through the links of family ancestors and or heritage. The poem â€Å"Ancestors† allows the reader to be positioned to feel the connection through our own ancestors and the attributes they bring to the forefront. They allow us to delve into the unknown or forgotten realms of our own history and allows us to draw upon these memories in order to feel content with our own sense of identity within society. It is a basic human notion of feeling as though we are not alone and we are apart of something greater then ourselves. In the poem Shrzynecki, there is an attempt to illustrate to the audience that he feels a sense of isolation in regards to the separation from his ancestors. The poem represents that without a clear understanding of our own history or ancestry we lack a clear sense of self as we are unaware of our past values, motives and/or attributes. This representation of ideas is presented through the use of metaphor and narrative voice. The â€Å"Star† metaphor â€Å"To what star do the footprints lead?† represent an unclear sense of direction – the star being the focal point of navigation which demonstrates the idea that without knowledge of your ancestry we cannot be certain of our place in this world. Another prominent language feature in this poem is the use of rhetoric. The rhetorical questions of â€Å"who, what, why and where† represent the uncertainty of the Author’s own past as there is a missing link from his ancestors and himself. The use of second person narrative voice in â€Å"Ancestors†, for example â€Å"why do you wake† positions the reader to look beyond the constraints of Skrzynekci’s written words and to consider our own ancestry. A The second text â€Å"Feliks† illustrates to the audience that we need some type of belonging in order to fit into society. In the poem the father drew upon his memories of Poland through his garden. Skrzynekci on the other hand was unable to create a link to his heritage or the present as he was torn between the new society and his old traditions. He failed to create a solid link to either of his heritages and thus conflict is presented to Skrzynekci. This conflict is one that creates many difficulties in regards to the way Skrzynekci related to his family and friends. In the first stanza of the poem â€Å"My gentle father kept pace only with the joneses of his own minds making† link to the fact that his father was not affected by the outside happenings and he was the only one whom dictated the way in which he did things. This then put strain on Shrzynecki as he began to feel more and more isolated from the new society as his father was rejecting the new practices rather then assimilating. Another present language feature is the use of hyperbole. The hyperbole â€Å"ten times around the world† is used to exaggerate Skrzynekci’s thoughts in regards to his father. Throughout the poem it is evident that Skrzynekci holds his father in high esteem and wishes not to disappoint his parents by choosing to assimilate into the Australian culture. This leaves Skrzynekci in an isolated state as he does not feel a sense of belonging to either the old or new heritage. In the novel â€Å"Homecoming† the theme of belonging runs throughout the entire novel. The novel tells the story of the 4 Tillerman children as they find themselves alone in their car (being abandoned by their mother), some miles from their home, in a shopping mall parking lot in Peewauket, Connecticut. The children go on a journey in order to find a place to live; a search for a home, a physical place where they can belong. They end up living with their grandmother. Through their journey in the novel they search for belonging within themselves, realizing that they are stronger as a family and that, although they have different personalities, strengths and weaknesses, they belong together. The children also struggle to see where they belong in the wider world, in society, as individuals and as a unit. It becomes apparent though the novel that family is a major symbol of belonging as within the home front the children learn this vital concept. Their â€Å"Homecoming† is a journey that leads them to a long-lost grandmother who remains the key to unlocking their family history and ancestry. They start to learn that families can be fragile, and that if they are not nurtured and protected, they can fall apart as in the case of their family. In regards to the contrasting of the three various texts one must position themselves both in the own realms of society and that of the author. We have to adapt to the author’s context in order to fully comprehend the text and its entirety. All three texts present the themes of belonging/not belonging within themselves and society. In regards to Skrzynekci’s poems we are able to understand that any link, either being that of family ancestors or even heritage creates a sense of belonging due to the link we have created to something greater than ourselves. The novel â€Å"Homecoming† links to the poems through the use of not belonging and the sense that Peter Skrzynekci felt and expressed through his poems. â€Å"Homecoming† links indirectly to â€Å"Ancestors† as both texts bring family and its importance to the vanguard. â€Å"Homecoming† and â€Å"Feliks† contrast as they allow the audience to become aware of different senses of belonging, such as the garden in â€Å"Feliks† and the mother in â€Å"Homecoming†. However in both instances the texts allows one to feel as though they are connected even when they feel as though there is absolutely no sense of belonging present. To conclude, all the three texts above illustrate the importance and the evolving nature of belonging. Thus the fundamental necessity to â€Å"belong† brings to the forefront that motivation for living, the reason for feeling placed within society and the drive for continuing growth and development on our journey through life. SUPERFLUOUS SHORT SENTENCES ARE MORE IMPACTUAL – CONCISE It may be as though we are unable to really feel a true sense of belonging and the only essence that is closets to true belonging is that to oneself. This would ultimately mean that we cannot be truly be connected to anything until at the end of one’s life when we reflect upon all the different places of belonging. It also brings to the vanguard that one can only really feel a sense of connectives or understanding of self if they are aware of their own history. It allows us to no longer feel isolation as we can clearly see where our ideals, motives and values originated. The language features that are present in this text demonstrate these factors and enable us as the reader to further understand the text and its meanings.

V For Vendetta Comparison Essay - 1006 Words

Compare how Orwell and McTeigue connect with the experiences, ideas, values and beliefs of their readers when exploring the abuse of science and technology and its effect on life and society in their texts. Orwell and McTeigue both explore the aspects of a dystopian future in their work, Orwell in his book 1984 and McTeigue in V For Vendetta. Both of the men use these works to explore and connect with the experiences, ideas, values and beliefs of their readers or viewers. One of the main themes in both of the formats is the abuse of technology. The movie and the book both explore the exploitation of technology and how it affects society and the lives of those who live under the government’s power. The technology used by the Party in†¦show more content†¦There is also the fact that inner Party members can turn off their Telescreens and avoid being monitored, which is similar to V For Vendetta and the way that the government do not have to hide their movements. This is mirrored in V For Vendetta by the obvious lack of care for the actions of high-ranking government officials unless in a motive against the government, this symbolises the hypocrisy of the government and portrays the message that complete power corrupts completely. The complete power that the government has over society has corrupted them completely and turned their power into a volatile one. This constant monitoring forces the people to act for the party and do what they say otherwise they will be persecuted for acting out. The use of technology has a negative effect on the lives of the citizens in V For Vendetta ¬ and 1984. The overuse of technology is forcing people to not speak freely and this lack of freedom does not have a good effect on their mental health. The government and the Party do not care for this though as the citizens are seen as below them. This general lack of care by the Party and the government on the respective worlds results in a bland and inhuman life. In each of the dystopias there are citizens, who are under the control of the Party, and there are also those who rebel, and these rebels are the problem. When a rebel is discovered in each of the two worlds they will simply be removed from existence explained by the quote â€Å"PeopleShow MoreRelatedV For Vendetta Comparison Essay1339 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel written by George Orwell, and the film V for Vendetta portray a world besieged by poverty, warfare, and totalitarianism. Amongst the turmoil and destruction, V emerges victorious while Winston Smith succumbs to the Oceanian hegemony. Both V and the Party of 1984 succeed - V in the ousting of the government while the latter in its attainment - because they realize that the power of a political or moral belief can transcend that of the individual. V and Big Brother transform into symbols, or embodimentsRead MoreV for Vendetta: The Movie and the Book948 Words   |  4 Pages for Vendetta Introduction Utopic and anti utopic movies and novels have always interested writers and directors from all over the world. In some sense, it is interesting to create new worlds, with new social and political systems. On the other hand, it is interesting, as well, to look for disadvantages of modern society and try to improve them. People were always striving to create a better world, even with words and images. In the past several years, there have been many movies devoted to theRead MoreThe Film V For Vendetta And The Song Get Up Stand Up By Bob Marley3978 Words   |  16 Pages SAE Institute Oxford SAE 502: Critical Analysis Essay The Comparative analyses of the film V for Vendetta and the song Get Up Stand Up by Bob Marley and how they relate to the social context of Marxism. James Cunningham 17658 ADHE0514 Assignment Code Word Count: Module Leader/Lecturer: Ben Hall Table of Contents Title Page Abstract Table of Contents Introduction (word count) Main Body (word Count) Conclusion (word Count) Appendices Reference List IntroductionRead MoreMovie Analysis : V For Vendetta2610 Words   |  11 Pagess adaptation of the graphic novel 300, and James McTeigue s adaptation of V for Vendetta are no exceptions to criticisms of historical accuracy. However, while Zack Snyder s 300 is an attempt to recreate history, and does so in a dramatic, stylized, exaggerated, and biased fashion, V for Vendetta echoes history and uses it as a way to enhance the story. Firstly, it is important to note that both 300 and V for Vendetta are adaptations of graphic novels. Thus, any historical inaccuracies committedRead MoreComparing The Film V For Vendetta And The Song Get Up Stand Up By Bob Marley3921 Words   |  16 PagesComparative analyses exploring the film V for Vendetta and the song Get Up Stand Up by Bob Marley and how they relate to the social context of Marxism. One of the themes that influenced many artists in the past is standing up for your rights. ‘V for Vendetta’ (2005) and ‘Bob Marley’s Get Up, Stand Up’ (1973) has been chosen because the author supports these works fit into the social context of Marxism. From the outset, Marxism will be examined in terms of the historical aspect and materialisticRead MoreSurveillance Has Been A Popular Theme Used By The Entertainment Industry2547 Words   |  11 PagesSurveillance has been a popular theme used by the entertainment industry in the last two decades. Films like the Bourne film series (2002-2012), Equilibrium (2002), V for Vendetta (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), Eagle Eye (2008), The Hunger Games film series (2012-2015) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) each use and play with this sense that the world is being watched by mysterious, dangerous, and clandestine men in black. Reality television programming, including shows like Big BrotherRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesApplications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management 577 Appendix A Research in Organizational Behavior Comprehensive

Perception Or Reality Has The Purpose Of Affirmative...

Perception or Reality: Has the Purpose of Affirmative Action Been Served? Introduction: Statement of Problem Perception is how one views the world around them. How people view the world determines their perception on topics that affect everyday life? The perception of affirmative action, and the underline reality on the social political scale differ depending on where and when this topic is discussed, or what articles are read on this topic. Gibelman, M (2000) in her article review Affirmative Action at the Crossroads: A Social Justice Perspective emphasizes the following; â€Å"The current socio-political environment suggests continued â€Å"chipping away† at the foundation of this public policy. It is essential that the social welfare community be an active participant in the debate about the future of anti-discrimination efforts and that it offer viable alternatives to preserve and extend efforts to fight discrimination in this country† ( p. 153). The disassembling of affirmative action is based the perceptions that people hold in today’s social and political arena. The held perceptions do not have to be true, they just have to be believed reality for the people who hold those perceptions. By reviewing the rational, analyzing data opposing and supporting affirmative action we can see that anti-affirmative action laws will cause a setback in education, and this is important to show that affirmative action is needed and should encompass more marginalized minorities.Show MoreRelatedWhiteness Of A Different Color1363 Words   |  6 PagesJacobson’s Whiteness of a Different Color offers innovative insight into the concept of â€Å"race† and the evolution of â€Å"whiteness† throughout American history. Jacobson focuses his analysis on the instability of racial identification over time and how race has been created and perceived throughout different stages of history. He states in his introduction t hat â€Å"one of the tasks before the historian is to discover which racial categories are useful to whom at a given moment, and why† (p.9) and while he is successfulRead MoreMass Incarceration Of Poor Black Male4177 Words   |  17 PagesName of a Bogus War on Drugs Purpose of the Study Purpose Statement: to reveal the problem of mass incarceration of poor, black male, and increasingly female, young people in the name of a bogus war on drugs from the 1980 s?90 s. The purpose of this study is to expose the process of mass incarceration of poor black males, and females increasingly, within the context of a fabricatedRead MoreEmpowerment and Strengths-Based Perspective: Social Work Essay4769 Words   |  20 Pagesto learn to use his or her own systems constructively More than a simple linguistic nuance, the notion that social workers do not empower others, but instead, help people empower themselves is an ontological distinction that frames the reality experienced by both social workers and clients (Simon, 1990, p. 32, quoted in Saleeby, 2006, p. 98) Introduction: This paper firstly looks at empowerment, what it is, and how it can assist social workers in enhancing their client’s competenceRead MoreHuman Resource Planning Recruitment7002 Words   |  29 PagesMatsushita Corporation has reaped benefits from HRP. The price of Japanese yen is a strong indicator for Matsushita’s demand for labor, because a high price makes their product exports more expensive. In 1988, anticipating a rise in yen price, they opened export centers to produce TVs and air conditioners in China, Malaysia, and the United States. These goods were unaffected by the rising yen and, given the accuracy level of their forecasters, these export centers have been doing a very profitableRead MoreAustralian Wine Industry Report5993 Words   |  24 Pagesworld economic, training practices, competitive business environment. An increasing newcomers to the Australia workforce, globalization makes national culture strategic more complete, and need to be managed that c ame from populations that have been under-served in the past because of racial, ethnic, gender, or cultural differences. Social trends in Australia indicate that today s minority groups demand respect and equal treatment in mainstream institutions. I have indicated that business in the worldRead MoreThe Identity And Street Art5052 Words   |  21 Pagescommunities and gentrification to see what that reveals about the overall Berlin identity. Finally, Emerson is analyzing cultural identity, which he defined as part of the â€Å"self-conception and self-perception nationality to ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality and any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture† (Deshmukh 600) and applying it as a comparative look between America and Germany. All three of our specific topics are prominently cemented by the concept of identityRead MoreThe New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration During The Age Of Colorblindness By Michelle Alexander3956 Words   |à ‚  16 Pagessupplement their income, also resulting in getting caught up in the system again. This creates a cycle, making it very hard for a person to break free. This can also be said for the legal system. After a person has a criminal record, they can no longer serve on a jury (Morgan, 1975). A person has the right to a trial with a jury of â€Å"peers†, but if a black man goes to trial, where would his peers be? He would not be able to get fair representation because his peers would also not be allowed to serveRead MoreFeminism in India4692 Words   |  19 Pagesemerge;[3]  and finally, the third phase, post-independence, which has focused on fair treatment of women in the work force and right to political parity.[3] Despite the progress made by Indian feminist movements, women living in modern India still face many issues of discrimination. Indias patriarchal culture has made the process of gaining land-ownership rights and access to education challenging.[4]  In the past two decades, there has also emerged a disturbing trend of  sex-selective abortion.[5]  ToRead MoreIndian Caste System5772 Words   |  24 Pagesresides. None of the Hindu scriptures endorses caste-based discrimination,[3][4][5][6] and the Indian Constitution has outlawed caste-based discrimination, in keeping with the secular, democratic principles that founded the nation.[7] Nevertheless, the caste system, in various forms, continues to survive in modern India because of a combination of political factors and social perceptions and behavior.[8][9] †¢ [edit] History Main article: History of the Indian caste system There is no universally acceptedRead MoreU10A1 Project – Organization Theory Project4528 Words   |  19 Pagesbusiness enterprise religious communities, ethnic cultures, or absolute fields of science and the arts. As OT has evolved from the classical concepts of management, the three dominate perspectives, modernism, symbolic interpretation, and postmodernism, jockey for the dominate position and acceptance (Capella, 2010). As noted by Hatch Cunliffe (2006), â€Å"Organization theory has helped me time and again to analyze complicated situations in the organizations with which I have worked, and